Winter Equestrian Festival Stars Highlight Roster for Million Dollar Al Maktoum Challenge in Dubai

Wellington, FL– December 30, 2005 - American riders Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden and Schuyler Riley are among the twenty best riders in the world invited to compete in the Al Maktoum Challenge at the Emirates Equestrian Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on January 11th through the 13th, 2006. $1,250,000 in prize money will be offered, making it one of the world’s richest show jumping competitions.

Madden, a member of the 2004 United States Olympic Silver Medal Team at Athens, Greece, took home the top prize in three of the world’s richest show jumping events in 2005. Madden’s wins included the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational in Tampa, Florida, the grand finale of the 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival. She also posted victories in the $1 Million CN International and the $200,000 Queen Elizabeth Cup at Spruce Meadows in Canada.

Kraut posted eleven major grand prix wins in 2005, including the $50,000 Kilkenny Internationale Cup, the $75,000 Florida Open Grand Prix, and the $25,000 WEF Challenge Cup III at the 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival. Kraut also led the victory gallop in the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Hickstead, Great Britain.

Riley made history in 2005 by winning the $145,712 Chrysler Classic at Spruce Meadows for the second year in a row. Riley was victorious in the Huis-Aan-Huiskranten Grand Prix in the Netherlands and finished fourth in the $50,000 Las Vegas World Cup Grand Prix.

Kraut, Madden and Riley were all part of the winning United States Samsung Super League tour this past year.

In addition to the riders from the United States, many of the world class invitees to this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, will challenge for the top prize in Dubai as well.

2004 Individual Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time World Cup Champion Rodrigo Pessoa tops the list of international stars scheduled for the United Arab Emirates and for this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival. Joining Pessoa on the lists for both events are Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker, Nick Skelton and Ellen Whitaker. The Netherlands’ Gerco Schröder, Ireland’s Jessica Kürten, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, Kamal Bahamdan of Saudi Arabia and Francois Mathy, Jr. and Ludo Philippaerts of Belgium are also invited to both Dubai and to Wellington.

Dubai was groundbreaking in the sport of show jumping as it hosted the first international show jumping event in the Middle East in January 1987. Known as the Metropolitan International Show, the show was a significant milestone because it pioneered a move to widen the scope of show jumping in the region and pave the way for the tremendous ground that has been covered since, in terms of international shows. 1992 was the last year for a Metropolitan International Show in Dubai and the first Maktoum Challenge was held in 1999. In 2000 the second Maktoum Jumping Challenge became an international event.

The Al Maktoum Challenge is organized by HorsePower International, organizers and managers of events worldwide. Started in 1989 the Group’s projects include the Royal Windsor Horse Show, the London International Horse Show and Olympia in Great Britain, and Pavarotti International in Italy.

Phelps Media Group International will be offering daily coverage of the Al Maktoum Challenge beginning on January 11, 2006 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. PMG’s Ken Braddick will provide coverage and photos.

PHOTO CREDIT: Schuyler Riley and Ilian at Spruce Meadows 2005. Photo by Ken Braddick – HorseSports USA.